This is hands-down the world’s easiest homemade hand & skin cream recipe to make. I think a good, simple recipe can kickstart your DIY journey and this one has only two ingredients – shea butter and oil. The 1970’s blender is optional – you can opt for something a little more modern, but that’s what I have – so we’re going with it :)
The best thing is that there’s no melting and cooling phase like when making a body butter (which is so lovely, please make it) or even a lotion. This is more your quick “blend and slather” recipe. No fuss. That said – I really recommend that you infuse your oil first with vanilla beans to give it a sweet, exotic scent.
Here’s how to infuse the oil – but for this recipe, maybe leave out the hot chili! Unless of course you like the idea of a warming lotion…
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Shea Butter – a small tub of shea butter can last you for ages, it’s so rich and nourishing you only ever need a tiny bit. Use it straight from the tub to soften your cuticles, on dry patches of skin, even as a deep-treatment for your hair. In this recipe, we’re adding it to give your cream it’s richness and deep moisturising effects. Shea butter is packed with vitamin A, known to be helpful in helping healing wounds, bug bites, skin rashes, ezcema and stretch marks!
Coconut oil – You can really use any oil that you like. Read my top 6 favorites here. Almond and safflower are good for all skin types. Avocado for dry skin. Grapeseed oil is great for oily skin. I really love coconut oil – I always have a bottle of it on the go in my kitchen and I love its skin moisturising, nourishing and cleansing properties!
After blending, you’ll have a rich and thick cream. If you find it to be a little too oily on your skin – add in a bit of arrowroot powder and it will dry with more of a powder finish.
It feels so gratifying to make something beautiful, natural and good. It’s a real fist-pump in the air – I can’t believe I just made this – moment that I hope you have :) Give this hand & skin cream a go and see if it works for you!
Vanilla Body Cream Recipe
- 2 tbsp shea butter
- 4-6 tbsp oil more or less depending on how thick or runny you want it.
- in a small blender or magic bullet – blend up your ingredients until creamy smooth
- store it in a jar, will last for one or two weeks. Make small batches!
You can use coconut, or another – or make a blend!
If you want to infuse your oil, check out this vanilla infused oil, but maybe leave the chili seeds out :)
ps – I once tried to infuse my shea butter – never do that! It gets wasted, you start with 1 cup and end up with 1/4 cup! Infuse the oil instead.
photography by: FellowFellow for Little Green Dot
CAN I USE COCOA BUTTER INSTEAD OF THE SHEA BUTTER FOR THIS RECIPE
Hi Lenore! Yes – that would be scrummy! let me know how it turns out :)
Locally, I have seen Shea Butter available at http://store.thediysecrets.com/shop/raw-shea-butter/
That blender is the cutest thing ever! May I know where we can get one?
Hi Stephanie! Thanks – it’s so old. I’m not even sure they make it anymore! :)
I’ve been mixing shea butter and oils for a while and while this recipe is simple and easy, the shelf life is incorrect.
This will last a lot longer than 2 weeks. Shea butter and coconut oil are shelf stable and since you’re not adding water, expect this to last for months!
Hi SaraK! Thanks for your tip :) I tend to keep it on the safe side because Singapore is so wet and hot. But you’re right – as long as you use clean fingers – this can definitely last for months! :)
Hi MIlitza,is not easy to find arrowroot powder in my area,can I change to different powder?
Hi Ayu! You can use cornstarch! :)
Hi Militza
I am just wondering where in Singapore I could purchase shea butter?
I would like to try this recipe on my sons eczema and would love it if I didn’t have to wait for shea butter to be shipped.
Kindest regards
Donna :-)
Hi Donna,
I haven’t seen it in Singapore – I’m always searching – I have found coco butter, which you can use as well but you’ll have to melt it first, as it’s way too hard to blend straight away. Melt it, then let it cool in the fridge until it gets semi-soid, but still soft and then blend it with the oil.
They sell coco butter at Real Food and B-I-Y. That said – if you order shea butter from iHerb, it comes within 1 week – it’s really fast!
Real Food: http://realfoodgrocer.com/
B-I-Y: http://www.b-i-y.com/
hope that helps!